Abortion

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 25 June (WA 1), which cited a conclusion of the National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health that there is no evidence to suggest that a woman's decision to terminate her pregnancy has any adverse mental health effects, whether the Department of Health considers it possible to ascertain whether or not the continuance of a pregnancy would involve a greater mental heath risk to the mother; and on what empirical evidence such a judgement might be based.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 25 June (WA 1), whether they have any plans to review section 1(1)(a) of the Abortion Act 1967.

Earl Howe: The final decision on whether or not to proceed with an abortion is for the woman involved, the two certifying doctors and the doctor who undertakes the termination, taking into account the circumstances for each individual situation and in accordance with the Abortion Act 1967.
	The report Induced Abortion and Mental Health produced by the National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health found no evidence to suggest that a woman's decision to terminate her pregnancy has any increased adverse mental health effects. However, there is evidence of unwanted pregnancy being associated with an increased risk of mental health problems regardless of whether the woman subsequently has an abortion or gave birth.
	Conclusions in the report are based on research in countries where abortion is legally available. Research that includes mental health outcomes for women denied an abortion of an unwanted pregnancy, or those unable to access abortion, is limited.
	Changes to the law on abortion have traditionally come from backbench members and decisions made on the basis of free votes.

Adoption

Lord Storey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the current process and timescale involved in obtaining an adoption order; and what plans they have to reform the present system.

Lord Hill of Oareford: Once a local authority decides that adoption is the best outcome for securing permanency for a child, the local authority will apply to court for a placement order. This is often done at the same time as a care application is being considered by the court. If the court considers that a care order and placement for adoption is in the best interests of that child, then it will make those orders. On average care proceedings take 54 weeks from application to final order. Once a child has then been placed for adoption the prospective parents can then apply for an adoption order to formalise the relationship. As the recently published Adoption Action Plan set out, the whole process, until a child is adopted, lasts on average two years and seven months, and within that, an average time of one year and nine months to obtain the placement order.
	The Government are committed to reforming the present system to reduce the time before a child moves in to a loving permanent home. We announced on Friday 6 July our intention to allow local authorities to place children, for whom an adoption decision has been made, with prospective adopters who are also approved foster carers, who will foster the child whilst the court considers the placement application, as well as increasing the use of concurrent planning in the adoption system. This builds on the work that we set out in the Adoption Action Plan, including the publication of an adoption scorecard to hold local authorities to account for their adoption services. This is complemented by our wider work to reform the family justice system which aims to ensure care cases are resolved as quickly as possible in the interests of the children involved. A key part of this work will be legislation which we plan to bring forward in this session to put in place a 26 week time limit for care cases with the flexibility to extend in exceptional circumstances.

Advisory Group for National Specialised Services

Lord Black of Brentwood: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there is a process for appealing appraisals conducted by the Advisory Group for National Specialised Services.

Earl Howe: The Advisory Group for National Specialised Services (AGNSS) is an independent stakeholder advisory group which provides advice to Ministers on the services and health technologies which should be commissioned on a national basis. This includes assessments of very high cost low volume drugs. Ministers make decisions on the basis of the advice they receive from AGNSS.
	There is no appeal process against the advice of AGNSS.

Agriculture: Genetically Modified Crops

The Countess of Mar: To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of evidence from the United States and Canada of a proliferation of weeds resistant to Roundup in fields planted with genetically modified Roundup resistant crops, whether they will permit Syngenta to market the genetically modified herbicide tolerant maize GA21; and, if so, what measures they will take to protect the environment.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: A decision on the marketing of GA21 maize seed for commercial cultivation will be taken in due course at European Union (EU) level, under the terms of Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003. The Government will take a view on whether or not to support EU authorisation on the basis of the scientific evidence on the potential impact on human health and the environment. Ministers will receive independent expert advice on this from the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment.
	If GA21 maize were to receive EU clearance under the GM-related controls, it could not be grown in the UK in association with Roundup herbicide unless that specific use of Roundup is permitted under the legislation on plant protection products. As yet no application has been made for authorisation to use Roundup on GA21.
	Authorisation holders for plant protection products are required to report any information relating to the development of resistance, and in the UK we have a Weed Resistance Action Group which is producing practical guidelines for resistance management and monitoring new developments in resistance. The Chemicals Regulation Directorate of the Health and Safety Executive also commissions research on this topic.

Banks: Virgin Money

Baroness Turner of Camden: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assurances Virgin Money gave the Government when they purchased Northern Rock plc about the protection of jobs and branches in Newcastle, Tyneside and Sunderland.

Lord Sassoon: The Chancellor announced the sale of Northern Rock plc to Virgin Money on 17 November 2011. The deal completed on 1 January 2012.
	When Virgin Money acquired Northern Rock in November 2011, it made a number of commitments relating to the acquisition: there would be no compulsory redundancies, beyond those already announced by Northern Rock, for at least three years from completion; the total number of Northern Rock branches would be retained and in due course extended as the business's growth allowed; and that the operational headquarters of Virgin Money would be based in Newcastle.

Birds: Buzzards

Baroness Quin: To ask Her Majesty's Government what consultation was undertaken before the decision was taken by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to embark on research involving the destruction of empty buzzard nests and other measures to discourage buzzards in selected areas of England; and who were the consultees.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: In January, Defra convened the Buzzard Working Group to look at the issue of buzzard predation. During these meetings Defra consulted on proposals for new research into non-lethal methods to reduce the damage caused by buzzards to game birds and other livestock.
	The group was made up of key organisations with an interest both from the conservation and shooting sectors. The following organisations have been consulted through this group:
	British Association for Shooting and Conservation;British Trust for Ornithology;Food and Environment Research Agency;Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust;Hawk and Owl Trust;National Gamekeepers' Organisation;Natural England;Northern England Raptor Forum;Royal Society for the Protection of Birds; andUniversity of Aberdeen.

Bloody Sunday

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they were involved in any consultations or discussions regarding a decision by the Police Service of Northern Ireland to launch a criminal investigation into the events in Londonderry on 30 January 1972; and, if so, who was involved.

Earl Attlee: Policing and justice matters were devolved in April 2010. The decision to launch an investigation into Bloody Sunday, following a review of the Saville Report conducted by the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland, is one for the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Both of these organisations are, as elsewhere in the United Kingdom, wholly independent of Government for all operational matters.

Burma

Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead: To ask Her Majesty's Government how they are ensuring British companies investing in and trading with Burma do so transparently and ethically.

Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint: The British Government urge all companies-including those entering Burma-to promote the highest standards of corporate governance and social and environmental responsibility, including adherence to the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, and the UN's Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
	We will put responsible investment at the heart of our future commercial relationship with Burma. We want to encourage investment that will benefit local communities and respect the local environment.
	To help achieve this, we are funding a three-year project by the Institute for Human Rights and Business in Burma, to work towards the implementation of the UN's Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. As part of this, the IHRB are establishing a resource centre in Rangoon to provide advice to companies, governments and civil society on this, and are launching their project with a round-table on 11 July with UK business, senior members of the Burmese Government, and MPs.
	We have also been focussing on the extractive sector. We have undertaken a concerted dialogue with the Burmese Government to encourage them to sign up to the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative. The Prime Minister raised this with President Thein Sein. The Burmese have now announced publicly that they are interested in implementing the initiative, and we are helping to organise a visit this month by the Secretariat as a first step.
	More broadly, we want to ensure that all investment in Burma contributes to broad-based economic growth. We are launching an investment climate assessment and a public expenditure and financial accountability assessment for Burma through the World Bank. We are also working with the International Growth Centre, which has just visited Burma to consider how it might provide policy advice on this.

Disabled People: Children's Holidays

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Hill of Oareford on 27 February (WA 280-1) and 15 March (WA 89) relating to the Heswall Disabled Children's Holiday Fund, when they will now complete the review of the regulatory framework and implement its findings.

Lord Hill of Oareford: We will be consulting on changes to the regulatory framework from September 2012. The consultation was delayed to permit further consideration of the range of options for regulating specialist providers of holiday schemes for disabled children. The intention is still that streamlined requirements will come into effect from April 2013.

Education: Careers Advice

Baroness Thornton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure careers advice and guidance in schools and colleges encourages women to enter occupations which are not sex-typical, in order to tackle occupational segregation.

Lord Hill of Oareford: We are supporting young women and young men to make informed choices by giving schools responsibility for securing independent and impartial careers guidance on the full range of education and training options, including apprenticeships. We are currently consulting on extending this statutory requirement to cover careers guidance for pupils in year 8 and 16-18 year-olds in schools and colleges.
	Statutory guidance has been published to support schools in planning for the introduction of this new duty from September. This highlights the importance of offering young people insights into the world of work through a wide range of careers activities, including engagement with local employers. Schools are free to determine the most appropriate forms of engagement but might consider mentoring, workplace visits, work experience and employer talks. This will be particularly helpful in addressing stereotypes about specific career paths and providing pupils with inspirational role models in a range of careers.
	Schools will be expected to work in partnership with external and expert careers providers as appropriate. A national standard under which providers operate will only be awarded if certain equality considerations are met. Careers advisers are bound by their code of ethics to give impartial advice and trained to avoid gender stereotyping. These requirements will be captured in a new career development framework that is currently being prepared by an alliance of professional bodies for the careers sector.

Education: NVQ Languages

Lord Harrison: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will review the decision to remove, beyond 2013, the NVQ languages qualifications from the list of approved qualifications eligible for GCSE-equivalent performance points.

Lord Hill of Oareford: Although a number of language NVQs were submitted for inclusion in the 2014 key stage 4 performance tables, they did not demonstrate the characteristics outlined in the Technical Guidance we published in October 2011.
	Awarding organisations were informed of the decisions for their qualifications in January, and then had the opportunity to request a further review. The final list of qualifications that will count in 2014 was published in March and there will be no further review of qualifications for the 2014 performance tables.
	Awarding organisations will, however, have the opportunity to submit qualifications for inclusion in the 2016 performance tables. Further details will be published on the department's website in due course.
	Schools are still able to offer qualifications not included in the performance tables that benefit particular individuals. It is for them to use their professional judgment to offer the appropriate qualifications best suited to their pupils' needs and abilities.

Employment: Outsourcing

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 14 June (WA 267), and in the light of recent severe computer problems affecting the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), whether they will use their influence with RBS and other banks substantially owned by the taxpayer to end or substantially reduce the outsourcing of jobs and to repatriate, where possible, those already outsourced.

Lord Sassoon: The Government's shareholdings in the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) are managed on a commercial and arm's-length basis by UK Financial Investments Ltd (UKFI), a company which is wholly owned by the Government. UKFI's overarching objective is to protect and create value for the taxpayer as shareholder, with due regard to financial stability and acting in a way that promotes competition. UKFI's role is to manage the investments, not to manage the banks-the banks retain their own independent boards and management teams to manage the banks commercially without interference from shareholders.
	Given the wider impact of this issue, the Financial Secretary spoke to Stephen Hester, the chief executive of RBS about the technical difficulties affecting both NatWest and Ulster Bank to ensure that RBS are doing everything they can to resolve these issues as quickly as possible and that customers will be properly treated and compensated as appropriate.

Ethnicity: Data

Lord Ouseley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their policy regarding the collection and publication of data on ethnicity, in order to assess access to public services and facilities, and to identify any patterns suggesting inequality or discrimination.

Baroness Verma: The Government collects data on ethnicity in various areas of public policy, including the Pupil Census to monitor the educational achievements of different social groups at key stages; the Labour Force Survey to assess key labour market outcomes, and the Integrated Household Survey to investigate other public service issues. In addition, the Government have supported data collection though the new Understanding Society survey, which has a relevant ethnicity boost. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has used this data to assess the extent of inequality and discrimination in the UK and this is contained in their first triennial review in 2010 Decisions on the use of data for assessing access to public services and facilities, and to identify any patterns suggesting inequality or discrimination, is a matter for individual public authorities.

Finance: UK Asset Resolution

Baroness Turner of Camden: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether UK Asset Resolution have sold or are planning to sell Northern Rock Asset Management properties in Newcastle, North Tyneside and Sunderland to Virgin Money; and, if so, whether any assurances have been sought by the Government or offered by Virgin Money about the protection of jobs and branches in those areas.

Lord Sassoon: UK Asset Resolution Limited (UKAR) is the holding company for Bradford & Bingley plc and Northern Rock (Asset Management) plc and is responsible for managing the closed mortgage books.
	In December 2011, UKAR announced plans to focus its business on its sites in Doxford (Sunderland) and Crossflatts (Bingley). This would involve the phased withdrawal of staff from its third main site in Gosforth (Newcastle), to be completed by mid-2013. UKAR subsequently sold its Gosforth premises to Virgin Money.

Finance: UK Asset Resolution

Baroness Turner of Camden: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether UK Asset Resolution expects to make job cuts as a result of or as part of its phased exit from sites in Newcastle, North Tyneside and Sunderland.

Lord Sassoon: UK Asset Resolution Limited (UKAR) is the holding company for Bradford & Bingley plc and Northern Rock (Asset Management) plc and is responsible for managing the closed mortgage books.
	In December 201 1, UKAR announced plans to focus its business on its sites in Doxford (Sunderland) and Crossflatts (Bingley). This would involve the phased withdrawal of staff from its third main site in Gosforth (Newcastle), to be completed by mid-2013. Around 700 people are employed in Gosforth out of a total workforce of 2400.
	At the time, UKAR announced that there would regrettably be some job losses as a result of the phased withdrawal. However, the majority of Gosforth staff have been offered the chance to relocate to the nearest UKAR site which is approximately 18 miles away in Sunderland, with some other roles to be transferred to Crossflatts. There are no plans to exit more sites in the foreseeable future.

Government Departments: Apprentices

Lord Adonis: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many apprentices (1) under the age of 21, and (2) over the age of 21, were employed within the Department for Communities and Local Government on 1 June, excluding agencies and non-departmental public bodies.

Baroness Hanham: Whilst DCLG currently has no apprenticeships at present it wholly supports the Government initiative to promote these.

Government Departments: Apprentices

Lord Adonis: To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the total number of staff employed within the private offices of ministers and the permanent secretary at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 1 June; and how many of them were (1) under the age of 21, (2) apprentices under the age of 21, and (3) apprentices over the age of 21.

Viscount Younger of Leckie: On 1 June 2012, 16 members of staff were employed within the private offices of the ministers and permanent secretary in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). Of the 16, none are under the age of 21 or apprentices. However, DCMS operates under a flexible resourcing system which means individuals of any age can apply internally for roles as they become vacant. This includes roles in private offices. DCMS will be participating in cross-Government apprenticeship initiatives in autumn 2012.

Government Departments: Apprentices

Lord Adonis: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many apprentices (1) under the age of 21, and (2) over the age of 21, were employed within the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 1 June, excluding agencies and non-departmental public bodies.

Viscount Younger of Leckie: On 1 June 2012 no apprentices under, or over, the age of 21 were employed within the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), due to focus on Games time delivery. That said, DCMS has historically had a strong record in accepting interns and apprentices across our bodies and sectors and will be participating in cross-Government apprenticeship initiatives in autumn 2012.

Government Departments: Media

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the limit on the cost of answering questions put to it by members of the media.

Lord Wallace of Saltaire: Individual departments are responsible for considering whether a response to a question could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
	Consideration of the disproportionate costs threshold can apply to all questions asked of departments.
	HM Treasury guidance to government departments sets the threshold at which disproportionate costs would be incurred in preparing a draft at £850.
	Where a question is asked under the Freedom of Information Act, Section 12 of the act allows a department to refuse to deal with a request where it is estimated that it would exceed the appropriate limit to:
	either comply with the request in its entirety or;confirm or deny whether the requested information is held.
	The appropriate limit is currently £600 for central government.

Health: Allied Health Professions

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what capacity the Civil Service has to advise Ministers on matters of concern to the Allied Health Professions.

Earl Howe: The Civil Service draws on a variety of expertise, notably the chief health professions officer, to obtain advice for Ministers on matters of concern to the allied health professions.

Health: Giant Cell Arteritis

Lord Wills: To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent estimate they have made of the costs to the National Health Service of failures to diagnose giant cell arteritis sufficiently early to prevent loss of vision for those afflicted.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent estimate they have made of the number of people afflicted by giant cell arteritis who have lost vision as a result of a failure to diagnose the illness sufficiently early.

Earl Howe: Estimates of the incidence of giant cell arteritis in the literature vary, but on the highest estimate (that of Smeeth et al, 2006) the annual incidence in England could be around 11,000. In a recently published study, 19 of 65 patients (29%) newly diagnosed with giant cell arteritis had suffered irreversible loss of vision. Combining these estimates, up to 3,200 people annually may be suffering partial or total loss of vision as a result of giant cell arteritis. Many of these cases may have been preventable.
	The available data do not enable us to make reliable estimates of the associated costs of National Health Service treatment.

Health: Health Care Workers

Lord Willis of Knaresborough: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the definition of a "health care worker"; how such workers are regulated; and what level of training is required for them to carry out their tasks when working with patients or clients.

Earl Howe: There is no standard definition of a "health care worker". Different statutory definitions apply according to the context. However, the term is generally used to refer to groups of workers who are not subject to statutory mandatory regulation in accordance with s60(2) of the Health Act 1999.
	As these workers are unregulated there is no mandatory training requirement. It is the responsibility of the service provider to ensure the workforce they employ is adequately trained and has the necessary skills to successfully handle the situations that they encounter in service.
	In the Health and Social Care Act 2012, we introduced legislation which will enable a system of assured voluntary registration, which we expect to be operational before the end of 2012. We have also commissioned Skills for Health and Skills for Care to develop a code of conduct and minimum training standards by January 2013, which will for the first time set clear expectations about the training and conduct of these workers.

Health: Mesothelioma

Lord Wigley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the insurance industry about the formation of an insurance-backed fund to pay compensation to people with mesothelioma who cannot obtain compensation any other way.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that full compensation is awarded to mesothelioma victims who cannot trace their former employers' insurers.

Lord Freud: The issues raised are complex, and to ensure we get this right we have been working intensely with stakeholders, including the insurance industry, over the past 18 months to find a solution to the problem. We hope to provide an update on progress before the Summer Recess.

House of Lords: Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint

Lord Foulkes of Cumnock: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many times since his appointment as a Minister of State, until 2 July, Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint has spoken in the House of Lords (1) in debate, and (2) to answer questions.

Baroness Wilcox: In my role as the Minister of State for Trade and Investment I have answered a total of 72 parliamentary questions-including two oral questions. On the 29 March 2011 I moved a motion on export control in Grand Committee, on behalf of my noble friend Baroness Wilcox, and on 9 February 2011 I repeated a Statement on trade and investment in the Chamber. On Thursday 5 July 2012 I responded to a "take note" motion moved by my noble friend Lord Jenkin of Roding on the international competitiveness of UK industry and its success in attracting inward investment and exporting to global markets.

Housing Benefit

Lord Bradley: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many under 25 year-olds are in receipt of housing benefit in each of the 10 districts of Greater Manchester.

Lord Freud: The requested information is provided in the table below:
	
		
			 Housing Benefit Recipients aged under 25 by Local Authority in Greater Manchester: March 2012 
			 Local Authority Number of recipients 
			 Bolton 2,080 
			 Bury 1,150 
			 Manchester 5,220 
			 Oldham 1,710 
			 Rochdale 1,970 
			 Salford 2,380 
			 Stockport 1,480 
			 Tameside 1,700 
			 Trafford 890 
			 Wigan 2,220 
		
	
	Source: Single Housing Benefit Extract (SHBE)
	Notes:
	1. The data refers to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple.
	2. Recipients are as at the second Thursday of the month.
	3. This data incorporates the local authority changes from 1 April 2009.
	4. SHBE is a monthly electronic scan of claimant level data direct from local authority computer systems. It replaces quarterly aggregate clerical returns. The data are available monthly from November 2008 and March 2012 is the most recent available.
	5. Caseloads are rounded to the nearest 10.
	6. Age groups are based on the age on the count date (second Thursday in the month), of either:
	(a) the recipient if they are single, or
	(b) the elder of the recipient or partner if claiming as a couple.

Imports and Exports

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Sassoon on 28 May (WA 112-3), what were the top 20 categories (as defined by HM Revenue and Customs) of goods imported from outside the European Union in 2010 according to value of imports; and how much was collected by HMRC in gross customs duties in each of those categories in 2010.

Lord Sassoon: The top 20 categories of goods imported from outside the European Union in 2010 by value are detailed in the table below. The table also provides details of the customs duties collected for each category as defined by the integrated tariff of the United Kingdom.
	
		
			 Rank Value of goods (£) Customs duty paid (£) Category description 
			 1 31,667,890,451 1,048,690 Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products made thereof 
			 2 21,557,781,751 130,731,454 Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances 
			 3 17,066,558,910 255,337,166 Electrical machinery, equipment and parts; includes sound and television recorders and reproducers 
			 4 11,726,708,902 2,217,078 Aircraft, spacecraft and parts thereof 
			 5 10,576,665,448 20,011,062 Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones, precious metals, metals clad with precious metal and articles made thereof 
			 6 5,799,302,722 362,675,612 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted 
			 7 5,510,487,576 201,943,594 Vehicles, other than railway or tramway rolling stock and parts and accessories thereof 
			 8 5,278,449,470 4,412,852 Pharmaceutical products 
			 9 5,223,093,123 427,768,948 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories not knitted or crocheted 
			 10 4,824,102,484 38,570,371 Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof 
			 11 3,412,973,556 32,225,951 Furniture, bedding, mattresses, mattress supports, cushions and similar stuffed furnishings; lamps and light fittings; illuminated signs and nameplates; prefabricated buildings 
			 12 3,280,962,700 34,254,597 Organic chemicals 
			 13 3,112,914,264 58,539,458 Toys, games and sports requisites, parts and accessories thereof 
			 14 3,031,795,455 129,535,014 Plastics and articles thereof 
			 15 2,525,452,521 2,045 Works of art, collectors' pieces and antiques 
			 16 2,439,124,571 220,209,442 Footwear, gaiters and the like, parts of such articles 
			 17 2,243,160,307 32,927,920 Articles of iron or steel 
			 18 1,899,277,287 90,475,372 Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons 
			 19 1,854,308,661 1,199,452 Ores, slag and ash 
			 20 1,61 9,1 52,872 10,867,567 Inorganic chemicals; organic or inorganic compounds of precious metals, of rare earth metals, of radio active elements or of isotopes

Justice: Judicial Inquiries

Lord Kinnock: To ask Her Majesty's Government how long each judicial inquiry commissioned by the Government since 2000 has taken; in each case, what was the subject of the inquiry; and whether any of those inquiries did not involve the swearing of oaths or making of affirmations by witnesses.

Lord McNally: The following table gives details of the subject, chair and duration of judicial inquiries established since 2000. Those inquires established under statute had or have powers to compel witnesses to give evidence under oath; non-statutory inquiries do not have this power.
	
		
			 Inquiry Chair Legislation Duration Did inquiry have power to compel witnesses to give evidence under oath? 
			 Shipman Inquiry Dame Janet Smith Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Act 1921 January 2001 to January 2005 Yes 
			 Investigation surrounding the death of Dr David Kelly Lord Hutton Non-statutory July 2003 to January 2004 No 
			 Zahid Mubarek Inquiry Mr Justice Keith Non-statutory April 2004 to June 2006 No 
			 The Billy Wright Inquiry Lord MacLean Section 7 of the Prison Act (Northern Ireland) 1953. Converted to inquiry under Inquiries Act 2005 November 2004 to October 2010 Yes 
			 Rosemary Nelson Inquiry Sir Michael Morland Section 44 of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 1998 November 2004 to May 2011 Yes 
			 The Robert Hamill Inquiry Sir Edwin Jowett Section 44 of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 1998. Converted to inquiry under Inquiries Act 2005 November 2004 to present. (Although the RHI report has been completed and the Inquiry fulfilled its terms of reference, the Inquiry report will not be published until the conclusion of related legal proceedings) Yes 
			 The ICL Inquiry Lord Gill Inquiries Act 2005 January 2008 to July 2009 Yes 
			 The Fingerprint Inquiry Sir Anthony Campbell Inquiries Act 2005 March 2008 to December 2011 Yes 
			 The Penrose Inquiry Lord Penrose Inquiries Act 2005 April 2008 to present Yes 
			 The Baha Mousa Inquiry Sir William Gage Inquiries Act 2005 May 2008 to September 2011 Yes 
			 The Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry Lord MacLean Inquiries Act 2005 April 2009 to present Yes 
			 The Al Sweady Inquiry Sir Thayne Forbes Inquiries Act 2005 November 2009 to present Yes 
			 The Azelle Rodney Inquiry Sir Christopher Holland Inquiries Act 2005 March 2010 to present Yes 
			 The Detainee Inquiry Sir Peter Gibson Non-statutory July 2010 to present No 
			 The Leveson Inquiry Lord Justice Leveson Inquiries Act 2005 July 2011 to present Yes

Mayors

Lord Storey: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Hanham on 30 April (WA 410-1), what methods, procedures and rules are in place to check the powers and performance of directly elected city mayors.

Baroness Hanham: As I explained in my reply of 30 April, mayors will be scrutinized by elected councillors, who will do this through the council's statutory Overview and Scrutiny Committees and Full Council. Mayors will also be subject to the council's code of conduct, and any other statutory requirements such as the Local Government Transparency Code.

Mental Health Act 2007

Lord Ouseley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what data on ethnicity are available regarding detention rates, consent to treatment, control and restraint, and Community Treatment Orders under the Mental Health Act 2007; and, if they are not available, whether the Care Quality Commission will be required to provide such data in respect of the past five years in their annual monitoring of the Mental Health Act.

Earl Howe: The Count Me In Census, published annually from 2005 to 2008 by the, Healthcare Commission and by the Care Quality Commission in 2009 and 2010, included information on detention rates, consent to treatment, restraint and Community Treatment Orders, broken down by ethnicity.
	The Care Quality Commission report Monitoring the Mental Health Act 2010-11 included analysis of the Mental Health Minimum Data Set (MHMDS) to show detail on the use of the Mental Health Act for people from a range of black and minority ethnic groups in 2010-11.
	The NHS Information Centre for Health and Social Care has recently conducted a consultation on how the MHMDS can be used as the source of national statistics about the use of the Mental Health Act 1983.

Nursing and Midwifery Council

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government how they will improve the performance of the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Earl Howe: On 26 January 2012, the Government published a Written Ministerial Statement, announcing that the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence (CHRE) would be undertaking a strategic review of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). This followed several years of underperformance by the NMC.
	On 3 July 2012, the CHRE published its review. It found that while the NMC is discharging its statutory duties, there were serious concerns about leadership, which resulted in poor performance below the standard that the public and registrants have the right to expect. This is of serious concern to the Government.
	The Government expect to see the NMC implementing all of the recommendations that have been made by CHRE. The department, on behalf of the Privy Council will be working closely with the CHRE to monitor progress.

Pensions

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Freud on 26 June (WA 58-59), what information they collect on the number, frequency and amount of claims for a temporary uprating of UK state pensions by UK citizens who are resident in countries where that pension is not uprated.

Lord Freud: No information is available on the amount of claims that are temporarily uprated.

Pensions

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Freud on 26 June (WA 58-59), whether they will make it their policy to collect and publish the number of claims made for a temporary uprating of UK state pensions by UK citizens who are resident in countries where that pension is not uprated.

Lord Freud: There are no plans to collect additional statistical information on pensioners receiving a temporary up-rate of pension during short visits to GB.
	To establish a system for collecting such information would be disproportionately costly.

Pensions

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the most recent year for which figures are available, how much was paid out to meet claims for a temporary uprating of UK state pensions by UK citizens who are resident in countries where that pension is not uprated.

Lord Freud: No information is available on claims that are temporarily uprated.

Pensions

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Freud on 26 June (WA 59), whether they will record the time taken to process each claim for a temporary uprating of UK state pensions by UK citizens who are resident in countries where that pension is not uprated.

Lord Freud: There are no plans to record this information.

Pensions

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Freud on 26 June (WA 59), whether they will record the number of civil servants who are required to process claims for a temporary uprating of UK state pensions by UK citizens who are resident in countries where that pension is not uprated.

Lord Freud: There are no plans to record this information.

Pensions

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what types of information and data are currently held on UK citizens who receive UK state pensions and are resident in countries where that pension is not uprated.

Lord Freud: The department collates statistical data on individuals receiving UK state pensions. The data are normally extracted quarterly from the department's IT systems for paying state pension.
	Statistical information is available by the following data characteristics: age; gender; country of residence; category and value of the pension in payment.
	This statistical information can be accessed on the department's website at: http://83.244.183.180/100pc/sp/tabtool_sp.html.
	Guidance for users is available at: http://83.244.183.180/ flows/flows_off/Guidance%20for%20Users.pdf.

Water Supply: Pipe Leakage

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Taylor of Holbeach on 11 June (WA 236), what are the targets for Thames Water on reducing leakage for 2012 and 2013.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: Thames Water's leakage target for 2011-12 and 2013 is 673 Megalitres per day.

World Heritage Sites: Liverpool

Lord Storey: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Hanham on 22 May (WA 53-4), and considering that the UNESCO World Heritage Committee has placed the Maritime Mercantile City of Liverpool on the list of endangered World Heritage Sites, whether the Secretary of State will now call in the Liverpool Waters planning application.

Baroness Hanham: The Liverpool Waters application has not been referred to the Secretary of State for his consideration at the current time. It is not the policy of the Secretary of State to consider call-in of applications before they have been referred to him for consideration. The application will be referred in due course as it falls within the scope of the Town and Country Planning (Consultation)(England) Direction 2009 by virtue of English Heritage's outstanding objection, related to the impact of the proposal on the outstanding universal value of Liverpool's World Heritage Site. The implications of the proposal in relation to the conservation and enhancement of the historic environment will form part of the consideration of the proposal against the call in policy set out in the Caborn statement. The Secretary of State is very selective about calling in applications and will only do so if they raise issues of national importance.